Crewe councillors have forced Cheshire East to delay its car park charge increases in the town by ‘calling in’ the decision.

As reported in last week’s Chronicle, the council pressed ahead with its plan to hike up the charges on two long-stay car parks in Crewe despite its argument being based on incorrect information.

The council had claimed even by imposing the £1 a day rise on Pedley Street and Railway Street, which would take the fees up to £4.50 a day, this was still cheaper than private car parks near the station.

A quick drive to the private Mill Street car park, which is £2.80 for 12 hours, or Crewe Alex, which costs the same as the council’s proposed increase at £4.50, easily disproves that.

Now the town’s Labour councillors on Cheshire East have called in the decision, meaning it can’t go ahead until it has been scrutinised.

Cllr Dorothy Flude (Lab) said: “This means the matter will now have to go back to a scrutiny committee and be reconsidered.”

She said because of the forthcoming elections ‘this should hold things up until after a new council is elected and in position to take a decision’.

Cllr Flude said the reason for calling in the decision was because it was unfair to raise charges in Crewe when other towns under the same council – Sandbach, Alsager and Middlewich – all had free parking.

“The car parks in Crewe shouldn’t be targeted for an increase. This will affect business people and others who use the railway station,” she said. “The effect on Crewe South will be people parking on side streets which will cause more congestion in an already congested area. In some areas, people are already parking with their tyres on the pavement.”